The Flu, Flu Shots, and Diabetes

Along with the cooler weather and colorful leaves of Fall, comes the beginning of cold and flu season.

Traditionally, October and November are the months to get vaccinated against the flu, a potentially deadly and highly contagious disease. Flu season can last until as late as May.

The flu is a respiratory illness caused by the influenza virus.

(Why should diabetics get a Flu shot?)

For people with diabetes, this illness can impair the immune system and cause serious complications such as bacterial pneumonia, dehydration, and an overall worsening of an already difficult disease.

People with diabetes who develop the flu are also at a high risk for developing pneumonia.

People with diabetes are three times more likely to die with influenza or the pneumonia. They are also six times more likely to be hospitalized due to flu complications. For these reasons, everyone with diabetes should get a flu immunization as soon as the annual vaccine becomes available.

I got my shot yesterday, and next month I have to get two more vaccinations my doctor recommends to her diabetic patients: Pneumonia and Tetanus, the latter I haven't had since, uh, um, I don't know, she didn't even have it in my record.